Congressman Neguse Leads Members of Congress in Return to Court After Trump-Vance Administration Denies Access to Conduct Oversight of Immigration Detention Facilities

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretly Re-Imposes Unlawful Policy and Denies Members of Congress Access Despite Federal Court Order in Neguse et al. v. ICE 

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado Congressman and Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse, alongside twelve of his colleagues, have returned to federal court after the Trump-Vance administration secretly re-imposed a policy that blocks unannounced congressional oversight of federal immigration detention facilities. The Representatives filed a motion urgently asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to order the administration to explain how this new policy is not a violation of federal law guaranteeing Members of Congress the ability to conduct oversight of ICE facilities. The court’s December order affirmed all Members’ rights under federal law to conduct this oversight.

 

The lawsuit, Neguse et al. v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement et al., was filed in July 2025 after the Trump-Vance administration unlawfully imposed a policy requiring Members of Congress to give advance notice before conducting oversight visits at immigration detention facilities, interfering with Congress’s constitutional oversight authority, and preventing lawmakers from examining conditions and government conduct as incidents of violence against detainees was on the rise.

 

Last month, the court preliminarily stopped DHS’s policy, affirming the rights of Members to conduct unannounced visits. However, after an ICE officer shot and killed a U.S. citizen last week, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem quietly signed a new memorandum reinstating the same seven-day notice requirement. The existence of the memo, which had not been shared with plaintiffs or the court, only came to light after three members of the Minnesota congressional delegation were subsequently denied access to an ICE facility in Minnesota, despite having the court order in hand.

 

The plaintiffs include Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse; Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat; Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bennie G. Thompson; Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin; House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia; House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Ranking Member Rep. J. Luis Correa; Rep. Jason Crow; Rep. Veronica Escobar; Rep. Dan Goldman; Rep. Jimmy Gomez; Rep. Raul Ruiz; and Rep. Norma Torres.

 

In a joint statement, Assistant Leader Neguse and his fellow plaintiffs said: “In December, a federal court acted to restore Members of Congress’s ability to conduct essential congressional oversight on behalf of the American people. Now, rather than complying with the law, the Department of Homeland Security is attempting to get around this order by re-imposing the same unlawful policy. This is unacceptable. Oversight is a core responsibility of Members of Congress, and a constitutional duty we do not take lightly. It is not something the executive branch can turn on or off at will. Today, we are going back to court to defend the rule of law, protect transparency, and ensure that no administration can hide behind closed doors.”

 

Read the filing HERE.

 

The Members of Congress are represented in this suit by Democracy Forward Foundation and American Oversight.

 

“What are they hiding? Why does the Trump-Vance administration continue to implement policies to block members of Congress – who represent the people and have legal obligations to conduct oversight – from accessing ICE facilities? The answer has become more and more clear: what ICE is doing is harmful and indefensible, and this administration does not want checks and balances,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “A federal court issued an order in December preventing the Trump-Vance administration’s attempts to prevent individual members of Congress from conducting oversight, and yet Secretary Noem and DHS appear to be seeking to circumvent the court’s order. This threat to the rule of law and our system of checks and balances should concern every single American. We look forward to seeking answers in court about what the government has done here.” 

 

“The Trump administration has now made clear that it is willing to defy both Congress and the courts to conceal conditions inside immigration detention facilities, effectively enabling — if not openly endorsing — ongoing abuse and neglect,” said Chioma Chukwu, Executive Director of American Oversight. “A federal court affirmed that members of Congress have a clear legal right to conduct unannounced oversight visits, yet DHS appears to have quietly resurrected the very policy the court stopped. That kind of end-run around the law undermines transparency, accountability, and the constitutional system of checks and balances. We are proud to stand with members of Congress as they demand that the administration explain their latest secrecy and obstruction.”

 

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Congressman Neguse Statement on House Consideration of Three-Bill Fiscal Year 2026 Minibus

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse released the following statement after House consideration of the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS); Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. While Rep. Neguse succeeded in protecting funding for vital programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), he ultimately voted against the three funding bills as a result of their omission of statutory language he proposed — on a bipartisan basis — to prevent the Trump administration’s reported plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. 

Neguse has forcefully condemned the White House’s attacks on the nation’s leading scientific research center, calling them reckless, dangerous, and blatantly retaliatory. During last Tuesday’s House Rules Committee hearing, he filed an amendment to reiterate sustained federal support for NCAR. House Republicans rejected the amendment by a 8-3 vote. 

“Colorado’s research institutes and laboratories are central to the fabric of our state and our nation, and I’m deeply grateful to the colleagues who joined me in pushing back against the Trump administration’s attacks on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. While I’m proud that we succeeded in ensuring the CJS funding bill rolled back dangerous cuts to NOAA — preventing irreversible harm to critical programs — I could not, in good faith, support legislation that fails to safeguard the extraordinary work being done at NCAR. Dismantling this institution would be reckless, dangerous and place the United States at a serious competitive disadvantage. I urge the Trump administration to heed our bipartisan call for a halt to their attacks on this vital institution — and I’ll continue to work with Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper and the bipartisan coalition we’ve built to protect NCAR,” said Congressman Neguse. 

At the end of last year, Neguse spearheaded a bipartisan effort with Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd (CO-03) and Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper urging congressional appropriators to prevent NCAR’s dismantling and protect its core capabilities. Their effort was supported by a coalition of nearly 100 lawmakers from both the House and Senate. 

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Congressman Aderholt Highlights Family-Focused Priorities as RSC Unveils Reconciliation 2.0 Framework

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of the House Values Action Team (VAT), participated today in a news conference alongside Republican Study Committee leadership to commend the release of the RSC’s framework for a second reconciliation bill, commonly referred to as Reconciliation 2.0.

Speaking as both VAT Chairman and an RSC Member, Congressman Aderholt praised the framework as a critical opportunity to secure additional conservative wins, codify key presidential executive actions, and rein in wasteful spending initiated under the Biden Administration.

“The House Values Action Team is a caucus of Members committed to defending and advancing what we call civilizational issues, family, faith, and freedom,” said Aderholt. “I am proud to stand with Chairman August Pfluger and my RSC colleagues to commend this framework for a second reconciliation bill, which represents our best opportunity to deliver lasting, conservative reforms for the American people.”

Congressman Aderholt highlighted several provisions in the framework that are of particular importance to VAT Members, including:

• Eliminating the marriage penalty in the Child Tax Credit, ensuring families are not financially punished for marriage.
• Fixing 401(k) contribution maximums that currently disadvantage families with a single working parent.
• Making permanent the ban on federal funding for abortion providers, a key victory from the first reconciliation bill that is set to expire on July 4, 2026, unless Congress acts.
• Eliminating Medicaid and ACA tax credit funding for gender procedures and elective abortions.
• Establishing an excise tax on higher education institutions that allow biological males to compete in female sports.

“These policies are about standing up for families and making sure federal law reflects common sense and core American values,” Aderholt said. “Republicans are working to deliver for the American family, and Reconciliation 2.0 does exactly that.”

Congressman Aderholt’s full remarks from today’s news conference can be viewed here:
https://youtu.be/3_Q5Et3ORi8

The RSC’s Reconciliation 2.0 framework will guide House Republicans as they move forward with the next reconciliation package in the coming months.

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“Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act” Folded into HR 1958 and Passed by the House Judiciary Committee

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom McClintock Representing the 4th District of California

Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today passed HR 1958 (Taylor) with Rep. McClintock’s legislation “Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act” folded into the bill.

Rep. McClintock’s “Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act” makes specific acts related to Social Security or identification document fraud a ground for barring a non-U.S. national from admission into the United States or deporting the individual.  Offenses that trigger this ground of inadmissibility and deportability include knowingly and without lawful authority producing a false identification document and making a false statement of material fact in an application for Social Security disability benefits.

Congressman McClintock delivered remarks in support of the amendment containing his bill language at the House Judiciary Committee markup hearing:

 This amendment delineates specific federal crimes that make an alien inadmissible to, or removable from, the United States.  This amendment also incorporates my “Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act” which the House passed on a bi-partisan basis two years ago. 

That bill simply says if you are an alien who admits to, or is convicted of, social security fraud or identification document fraud, you cannot enter the country, and if you are already here, you should be deported.  That’s just common sense.

Even the New York Times recently reported that “as many as one million” illegal aliens are using fraudulent or stolen social security numbers.  According to another report in 2017 there were 1.2 million cases in which illegal aliens used social security numbers that belonged to somebody else or were fabricated.  That number surely has skyrocketed following four years of the Biden-Harris open borders.  

A 2022 investigative report found that because of this fraud “victims may face tax bills for income they didn’t earn, or depleted benefits, and may suffer from poor credit histories, or even criminal histories.”

By specifically listing federal crimes that make an alien inadmissible to, and removable from, the United States this amendment closes loopholes, removes the years-long litigation that so often bogs down the removal process, and strengthens the immigration system.  

Finally, the amendment guarantees that the fraudsters described in this bill cannot exploit Americans generosity ever again by receiving any immigration relief in this country.

The legislation will next go to the House floor.

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Video link to Committee remarks.

Congressmen McClintock and Cohen Condemn Iran’s Brutal Suppression of Protesters

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom McClintock Representing the 4th District of California

Statement from the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus

WASHINGTON – Congressmen Tom McClintock (CA-5) and Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus, today released the following statement:

“We stand in solidarity with the people of Iran as they courageously rise to demand their fundamental rights and a future rooted in freedom, dignity, and democratic governance. Across cities and communities, Iranians have made clear their aspiration for a democratic, non-nuclear republic that respects political pluralism, the rule of law, and basic human rights.

“We unequivocally condemn the Iranian regime’s brutal suppression of protesters. The use of lethal force, mass arrests, intimidation, and reported attacks on civilians and medical facilities represent grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Such actions further underscore the regime’s disregard for the lives and voices of its own people.

“The Iranian people have also made clear that they reject all forms of authoritarian rule. Their call is not for repression or extremism, but for the universal principles of freedom, accountability, and self-determination.

“As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the Iranian people’s legitimate aspirations and to holding accountable those responsible for human rights abuses. The United States, together with the international community, must continue to stand firmly on the side of human rights, democratic values, and the Iranian people’s right to choose their own future.”

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Rep. Tom McClintock Statement on the Arrest of Nicolas Maduro

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom McClintock Representing the 4th District of California

The arrest of Maduro has advanced both the cause of justice and freedom in the Western hemisphere and revived the Monroe Doctrine for our national security. It is an astounding tactical success of American armed forces and a testament to the decisiveness and resolve of President Trump and his advisors.  The contrast between American socialists protesting Maduro’s ouster with the jubilation of ordinary Venezuelans celebrating their deliverance speaks for itself. 

The  federal courts have consistently upheld this use of military force by Presidents over many years and I believe the President has acted within these legal precedents.  Nevertheless, in calmer times I believe that Congress will need to clarify and re-assert its preeminent constitutional role before military action is initiated.

House Floor Remarks: H.R. 4371 – Kayla Hamilton Legislation

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom McClintock Representing the 4th District of California

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-05) today delivered remarks during House floor debate in support of H.R. 4371 (Fry).  Rep. McClintock is a member of the House Judiciary Committee where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement.

Excerpt: During the four years of the Democrats’ open border nightmare, some half million unvetted, unaccompanied minors were trafficked into our country by our own government and left with poorly vetted or unvetted sponsors.  The government lost track of 150,000 of them.  This is a dark chapter in our history that must always be remembered and never be repeated.

 Click below to view complete remarks: 

 

 Remarks as delivered:

During the four years of the Democrat’s open border nightmare, some half million unvetted, unaccompanied minors were trafficked into our country by our own government and left with poorly vetted or unvetted sponsors. The government lost track of 150,000 of them. This is a dark chapter in our history that must always be remembered and never be repeated.

So far, despite the vicious and sometimes violent opposition of the Democrats and their ANTIFA auxiliary, the Trump administration has now rescued 62,000 of these children who had fallen into the underworld of illegal sex and labor trafficking. 

But many of these unaccompanied alien children weren’t children at all. Some were gang members or adults pretending to be minors, or both. And since the Biden administration’s priority was to traffic as many as possible into our country, they didn’t care to check.  Biden’s HHS secretary compared the processing to an assembly line, and he threatened to fire anyone who slowed it down to ask embarrassing questions like, “Is this person with gang tattoos a member of a gang? Are they even a child?” 

This bill is named after Kayla Hamilton. She paid the ultimate price for the Democrats’ open borders. She was found in her own bedroom, raped, tied up and then strangled with a phone cord. Her murder was recorded on her boyfriend’s voice mail when she desperately called him for help. Kayla was just 20 years old. 

She was murdered by a 17-year-old MS 13 gang member who Biden’s administration welcomed into our country. Police investigating her murder noticed that her assailant had gang tattoos and one call to El Salvadorian authorities confirmed he was a known MS 13 gang member – something that federal officials never bothered to ask as they recklessly placed him in Kayla’s neighborhood. 

The Trump administration has stopped this madness thank God, and ICE is now trying to locate every gang member that the Democrats allowed into our country to prevent future atrocities. And ICE is being blocked every step of the way by the Democrats and the violent street mobs that they have incited and encouraged. 

But what if another Democrat becomes President? Their leaders all backed these policies. And that’s where this bill is so desperately needed: Not for future presidents like Trump, pledged and determined and to uphold our immigration laws, but for future Democrats who are pledged to undermine or ignore them. 

If this bill had been law, Biden would have been powerless to unleash these horrors upon our people. This bill requires every unaccompanied alien child to be fully vetted and detained if they are suspected to be criminals or gang members. It also requires every sponsor to be similarly vetted, to prevent the rampant child abuse and trafficking that was aided and abetted by the Biden administration with the support of the Democrats in this Congress. 

This must never happen again. This bill assures that whoever is President, it cannot happen again. 
 

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Miwok Land Transfer Bill Passes House Unanimously

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom McClintock Representing the 4th District of California

Washington, D.C. – Congressman McClintock’s legislation H.R.2302 the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Land Transfer Act of 2025, has passed the House of Representatives by a unanimous voice vote.  The legislation next goes to the Senate.

The legislation transfers 80 acres of BLM land and 185 acres of fee simple land already owned by the tribe into trust as part of the reservation for housing.  

“The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians survived near annihilation during the Spanish and Gold Rush eras to become a prosperous and integral part of El Dorado County and I am honored to carry this legislation that will continue their progress and contributions to their posterity and to our community into the years ahead,” said Congressman McClintock during House floor debate on the measure. 

“H.R. 2302, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Land Transfer Act of 2025, resolves long-standing land issues while promoting tribal sovereignty and management of natural resources,” remarked House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman.  “I commend Representative McClintock for his leadership on this important measure and look forward to working with him to move it through the legislative process.”

Congressman McClintock’s House floor remarks delivered in support of the measure:

 

THOMPSON BACKS IMPEACHMENT OF KRISTI NOEM: “SECRETARY NOEM ISN'T JUST INCOMPETENT — SHE'S VIOLATING THE LAW”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Washington, D.C – Following the death of Renee Good at the hands of an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) has joined Rep. Robin Kelly and 68 other Democratic colleagues to introduce articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. 

“Like so many Americans, I am sickened by ICE’s killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis.” said Thompson. “Unfortunately, this is the latest in a long list of failures from Secretary Noem. It’s clear that Secretary Noem isn’t just incompetent — she’s violating the law. Enough is enough. I support my colleague Rep. Robin Kelly’s efforts to impeach Secretary Noem for her obstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing.”

“Secretary Noem has brought her reign of terror to Chicago, LA, Minneapolis, and communities from north to south, east to west. She needs to be impeached for her actions,” said Rep. Kelly at a press conference introducing articles of impeachment. “Secretary Noem has called my impeachment effort ‘silly.’ I want to tell her right now: You have violated your oath of office and there will be consequences. I am watching you. The American people are watching you. And most of all, we are not liking what we are seeing. If you believe impeachment is ‘silly,’ then you are not taking your job or our Constitution seriously.”

BACKGROUND

The Constitution gives the U.S. House sole power of impeachment. Democrats introduced three articles of impeachment:

1. Obstruction of Congress

Secretary Noem violated her constitutional oath and refused to comply with the law that prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from preventing a Member of Congress from entering a DHS facility used to detain undocumented immigrants.

Rep. Kelly has tried to enter the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, but was denied, despite following Secretary Noem’s unlawful seven-day notice. There’s been documentation of six other instances in which Members of Congress have tried to enter an ICE facility and been denied in Texas, Colorado, California, New York, Virginia and Washington.

2. Violation of Public Trust

Secretary Noem has repeatedly violated the Immigration and Nationality Act, the First and Fourth Amendments of the United States Constitution. She’s also broken due process by directing ICE to conduct warrantless arrests and use violence against US citizens and lawful individuals.

During Secretary Noem’s “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago, federal agents used excessive force, in some cases injuring or killing, residents. Federal agents used military-style tactics to raid an apartment building in South Shore, detaining U.S. citizens for hours without warrants or reason for arrest. These dangerous actions have continued in cities across the country, including in Minneapolis, where Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by ICE.

3. Self-Dealing

Secretary Noem has misused her position for personal gain while inappropriately using $200 million taxpayer dollars to fund an ad campaign for ICE recruitment. She bypassed the normal competitive bidding process to award a contract to a firm called Strategy Group. Strategy Group was formed just days before the award and is run by the husband of senior DHS official Tricia McClaughlin, a close friend of Secretary Noem. 

Read the full text of articles of impeachment here.

In Addition to Rep. Thompson and Rep. Kelly, there are 68 other Members of Congress cosponsoring these articles of impeachment: Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Alma Adams; Angie Craig; April McClain Delaney; Becca Balint; Betty McCollum; Bonnie Watson Coleman; Brad Sherman; Brittany Pettersen; Chellie Pingree; Danny Davis; Dave Min; Diana DeGette; Doris Matsui; Emily Randall; Eric Sorensen; Eric Swalwell; Gabe Amo; Gabe Vasquez; Gwen Moore; Ilhan Omar; Jan Schakowsky; Jasmine Crockett; Jill Tokuda; Jimmy Gomez; John Larson; Jonathan Jackson; Juan Vargas; Julie Johnson; Kelly Morrison; Kevin Mullin; LaMonica McIver; Lateefah Simon; Laura Friedman; Linda T. Sanchez; Lloyd Doggett; Lori Trahan; Luz Rivas; Mark DeSaulnier; Mark Pocan; Maxine Dexter; Maxwell Frost; Melanie Stansbury; Mike Quigley; Nikki Budzinski; Nydia M. Velazquez; Paul Tonko; Pramila Jayapal; Raja Krishnamoorthi; Rashida Tlaib; Ritchie Torres; Rob Menendez; Sarah Elfreth; Sarah McBride; Sean Casten; Seth Moulton; Shontel M. Brown; Shri Thanedar; Steve Cohen; Summer Lee; Suzanne Bonamici; Teresa Leger Fernandez; Tim Kennedy; Val Hoyle; Valerie Foushee; Veronica Escobar; Wesley Bell; Yassamin Ansari; Yvette Clarke.

THOMPSON JOINS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO BLOCK PRESIDENT FROM ESCALATING HOSTILITIES TOWARD VENEZUELA

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

Washington, D.C. – In the aftermath of the Trump administration’s military strike against Venezuela, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) joined Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) to support a bipartisan bill blocking the President from engaging in further hostilities within or against Venezuela without explicit authorization from Congress.

“As a combat veteran, I know the horrors of war. That’s why I’m opposed to the President’s actions on the ground in Venezuela,” said Thompson. “War should always be the last resort and only when our country is threatened. That’s why I stood against the invasion of Iraq. At the time, I got lots of criticism. But that didn’t matter to me. The grave decision whether to put our troops in harm’s way will always be more important. This time is no different.

“I stand with the American people in opposing any unprovoked military occupation, whether in Venezuela or anywhere else — because advancing this administration’s oil interests isn’t a good enough reason to send our troops into danger.”

BACKGROUND

Thompson’s support for this bill follows the White House admitting “it’s a war” in Venezuela, claiming that America is going to “run the country,” and refusing to rule out more U.S. troops in the country—alarming signals that America is being dragged toward a new dangerous, expensive, and never-ending war without constitutional authority or congressional oversight.

As a combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and Co-Chair of the Military Veterans Caucus, Congressman Thompson is a leader in Congress on behalf of service members, veterans, and military families. Click here to watch his remarks at a recent press conference condemning the President’s unauthorized military action in Venezuela.